Alfenus chrysophaeus SIMON, 1903

Szűts, T. & Scharff, N., 2005, Redescriptions Of Little Known Jumping Spider Genera (Araneae: Salticidae) From West Africa, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 51 (4), pp. 357-378 : 361

Alfenus chrysophaeus SIMON, 1903

( Figs 1B , 2 G-H, 3E-G)

Alfenus calamistratus SIMON, 1903 b: 112 ; SIMON 1903 a: 722.

Diagnosis – Male palp with a short tibial apophysis, wide at base. Embolus short, with a membraneous basal part. Male holotype: Holotype pale, probably due to many years in ethanol. Carapace brownish, ocular area yellowish. The hairy appearance characteristic for the type species of the genus, Alfenus calamistratus , is not observable, moreover there is no hairs on the carapace. Chelicera with two smaller prolateral and one larger retrolateral teeth. Abdomen oval, covered with hairs, with brownish arrow-shaped pattern on a whitish background. Legs almost equal in length, the forelegs brownish, hind legs yellowish with darker stripes.

Measurements – Male: total length 6.9. Carapace 3.25 long, 2.25 wide, 1.63 high at PLE. AEW 2.3, PEW 2.0, OCA 1.6 long. Abdomen 3.25 long, 1.65 wide.

Palp – With simple structure ( Figs 3 E-F). Tibia with short apophysis. Bulbus weakly sclerotized (in contrast to A. calamistratus ), sperm ducts visible. Embolus short, with a membranous basal part. The palp of this species is so different from A. calamistratus that we are in doubt about the generic placement ( Figs 2D, F, H ). However, we have currently no suggestiuon for alternative placement of this species.

Female: unknown.

Distribution – Cameroon / Equatorial Guinea (see discussion under genus).

Material examined – Type material: Male holotype (examined): “21994 Alf. chrysophaeus E.

S: Cameroun (la Escaul.)”; “21994” ( MNHN 21994 ). chrysophaeus G = male holotype, ventral view, H= palp of the holotype, dorsal view

Figures

Fig. 1. Habitus of Alfenus. A= Alfenus calamistratus; B= A. chrysophaeus; C= A. calamistratus. Scale = 1.0 mm

Fig. 2. Automontage images of Alfenus. Alfenus calamistratus A = male holotype, fronto-lateral view, B = specimen from Congo, fronto-lateral view, C = male holotype, dorsal view, D = palp of the holotype, ventral view, E = specimen from Congo, dorsal view, F = same, palp dorsal view; A.

Fig. 3. Alfenus species. Alfenus calamistratus A= carapace, frontal view, B = same, fronto-lateral view, C = palp, ventral view, D = same, retrolateral view.A.chrysophaeus E = palp, ventral view, F = same, retrolateral view, G = carapace, fronto-lateral view. Scales 0.2 mm for palps, 1.0 mm for cara-